Unable to compete, the Cupertino company claims that Google and Samsung stole features from Siri

Given that the massive Galaxy S IV doesn't look too much like the much smaller 4-inch iPhone 5, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is having to turn to new and creative routes to try to convince federal judges and juries to ban its competitor’s flagship product.

Thus it is perhaps expected that Apple would be return to its favorite tactic -- looking to troll Samsung in court.

The Samsung Galaxy S IV

Its latest accusation is that Google Inc.’s (GOOG) Android "Google Now" service violates five invention claims that Apple has patented, with respect to its Siri voice search/assistant that it co-designed with Nuance Communications Inc. (NUAN).

But wait, you say, what could patents filed at least four years before Siri was released (or ten or more years in most cases) have to do with Siri or Google Now? And what in the world do graphical user interface patents (the latter two patents from the 90s) have to do with voice search?

II. Apple Looks to Use Ambiguous Decade-Old Patents Against Samsung

Apple contends that the trio of initial patents -- which cover interaction with ambiguous data constructs -- can be applied to Siri, Google Now, (or likely most other pieces of software). And Apple says its equally ambiguous UI "inventions" are fair game, as Google Now is activated by an on-screen button at times, replacing the previous "Android Quick Search Box".

According to a filing obtained by Florian Mueller, an anti-Google blogger paid by Google's legal rivals, Apple writes, "The Galaxy S4 product practices many of the same claims already asserted by Apple… in the same way as the already-accused Samsung devices."

Unable to compete, Apple is helping the courts lend it a helping hand in its war against Samsung. [Image Source: Cult of Mac]

Can we have less bias and prejudice here? I know the audience here are mostly IT managers and software/hardware developers who automatically hate Apple for not allowing more control of the devices and for designing something that's easy to use. We all know IT managers/software/hardware developers are more techie and want more control so they don't always appreciate Apple's products.

The fact is, Apple is still the market leader based on profits. How are they not able to compete?

Interestingly enough, since OSX 10.5 rolled out several years ago, most IT people don't care about Macs on their environment as you can join them to domains and give them access to resources on your windows/linux/unix servers. Why IT folks dislike Apple is probably more personal than anything else. Personally, I dislike the fact that they don't play well in the sandbox with the other kids (Google, MS, etc).

Device wise, IT dislikes iPads because they are CONSUMER devices that everyone wants to make enterprise. We also dislike Android tablets too, for the same reason. Personally, I love my Nexus 7 for home use, and I find a couple of uses for work, but really, it's not for work. I don't have 1/8 of the tools I need on my Nexus 7 vs the work provided Windows 8 laptop/tablet.

quote: most IT people don't care about Macs on their environment as you can join them to domains and give them access to resources on your windows/linux/unix servers

Only sort of true. We allow it in ours because some people complain and cry if we don't. However policies that we can enforce with all the Windows machines are impossible with the Macs unless we buy an entirely different Apple server and pay for the software as well to control those laptops. Even then we don't get the policies that we need to control the corporate data. Apple's are still very poor for corporate needs.By the way I loved how I got a Mac from someone here and didn't know the password but it only took me maybe two minutes without any additional software to change the default password and log right in. So very secure.

"Complain and cry" This is where the IT manager needs to step up and say "EF OFF". Your boss, or your boss' boss needs to grow a pair. The security risks with Mac products, as you pointed out, are FAR too high and the cost of investing in another server for a handful of "special snowflakes" is not worth the money.

We do allow users to user our guest wireless network for their phones and tablets for data, Apple and Android alike. However we do not allow Macs to have access to the network. Its hard lined in this company. There have been people that have asked, and it only made it past my desk once, and at that point it was addressed with the manager of our company. It was squashed from the start, as it should be. Cowing to the requests from a few only opens a Pandoras box that is really hard to close.

And this is not because I am an Apple hater. In fact I think they make some really nice stuff, for the home office or user. However the extra work and money needed to do this is just not worth it unless your IT budget is flush with cash. Apple maybe should spend a little time making their products able to be managed via MS group policy if they want to be serious in the workplace. Until they do that, they wont be taken seriously. The other side of the Apple problem is the cost. I can buy 2 fast Dell workstations for the cost of a single Apple with mediocre specs.

Not sure what fairy tale world you are living in there, but an IT Manager is pretty low on the corporate ladder. He doesn't get an awful lot to say about it when his CIO says "Support MACs. I don't care how you do it, make it happen. Today. And make sure they are secure!". Just what do you think would happen to that IT manager if he were 'grow a pair" to turn around and say "EFF OFF!"? I suspect there would be a new IT manager installing MACs half an hour after the old one was escorted out the front door, balls and all, by Big Biff the security guard.

If you look at the numbers, it really is the rest of the vendors that ship Android based phones that cannot compete with Samsung. Samsung is getting virtually 100% of the profits in the Android arena and the majority of the sales.

It also is interesting that Samsung's leadership has claimed recently that they will ship > 10 million Galaxy S4 handsets in 10 weeks (i.e., more than a million a week shipped) while Apple's leadership claimed they sold > 5 million iPhone 5 handsets in 3 days (i.e., more than a million a day sold). It is only in Jason's mind that this equates to Apple not being able to compete.

It still doesn't matter. Nerds aren't looking at who wins in terms of profits, they are looking at who wins in terms of the best products. Can you honestly say you give a crap about the amount of money your phone makes its manufacturer? No-one does. It's about what the phone does for YOU, not what it does for its maker.

quote: as a consumer, why do i care about who is most profitable? seems like a pissing contest.

You've got this backwards. As a measure of who is 'competing' best in the mobile phone sphere, we can look to profits. It shows how much value consumers are placing on the value they add. Given that Apple is currently making more profits, it is factually incorrect to describe them as 'unable to compete'.

You want less bias and then you voice a bunch of statements on what IT people likes or not. I suggest you go look up the word ironic.

As for hating Apple then I do so because the way they do business because it has a negative impact on the whole industry. Instead of spending money on lawyers they should innovate, but apart from what is essentially clever packing of other companies inventions then exactly what have Apple ever really created?

I am not sure what Samsung's spending has to do with Apple's amazing marketing, but... OK. Apples marketing is really amazing... I wasnt being sarcastic, it just is. They really have alot of people "believing the hype" so to speak.

Apple managed making the moved from an almost cult company to being craved by most people while still looking some exclusive and amazing company. Unfortunately for Apple they have not been able to keep everyone believing that way and now even those that just follow the trends are starting to catch up. For some time now Apple has alienated a lot of their die hard fans and have gone from being über cool to being everywhere and is now is uncool to many.

For some time I think Apple can maintain a good market share because many people have invested in their platform and aren't savvy enough to move their media collection away from the Apple chains. However this will only last them for a while so unless Apple changes their way even the iSheep will move to green pastures.

As I see it Apple face the following problems.

1. They have alienated much of the tech world.2. They are falling behind tech wise.3. Much of the Apple cult is moving on (due to 1 & 2).4. Due to 2 and 3 and the stupid lawsuits and recently the tax scandal even iSheep is starting to look for alternatives.

Microsoft must be thanking Apple in their evening prayers. Apple has become so Evil that the crap they have been doing, and to some extent is doing, looks almost of no consequence.

"Game reviewers fought each other to write the most glowing coverage possible for the powerhouse Sony, MS systems. Reviewers flipped coins to see who would review the Nintendo Wii. The losers got stuck with the job." -- Andy Marken